Finding cheap and tasty Indian food is a real challenge. We know several restaurants in Budapest offering dishes baked in a tandoor clay oven, naan bread and lassi, but we cannot buy much at these places with just 1500 forints in our pocket. Lucky for us, we do not have to fly to London in order to eat good Indian food, since Hathi is here for us. They are worth visiting for meaty and vegetarian dishes, spicy foods and hot naan bread. Be warned: because of the strong spices, you might smell like a kofa all day after a 20-minute meal.
Soup: 300 forints
Entree: from 600 forints
Dessert: 300 forints
How authentic: subdued flavors, but thankfully no Hungarian chilli sauce called 'Erős Pista' on the tables
We recommend: Corma Lamb (1400 forints), buttery naan bread (400 forints) Hathi Indian Diner
Address: 1139 Budapest, Frangepán Street 20.
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30-20:00
3/11
Funky Pho
It is almost easier to get pho soup in Budapest's downtown than a really good Hungarian chicken soup, as the Vietnamese soup has become a really popular trend. We include Funky Pho in our compilation because they do not have a classic “menu” selection and the soups are cooked on the spot. It is the best pho restaurant in the city according to Dining Guide and locals, as well. Even though most customers come for the soups, we love their salads and their Vietnamese crepe with coconut milk, curcuma and baked pork.
Soup: small pho 1090 forints, large pho from 1490 forints
Entree: a large pho is more than enough for a meal, but for example, a chicken salad is 1490 forints
Dessert: 690 forints
How authentic: the flavours fit well with European tastes
We recommend: pho with ginger tripe and leg of veal, kimchi
Kerkyra, the most delicious Greek fast food restaurant, awaits us beyond the Grand Boulevard. Their gyros is nearly identical to the ones we can eat when on a holiday: delicious meat piled in thick pita, with great tzatziki and fries. If we want more Greek goodies like souvlaki, bifteki, mousaka or pasticada served with macaroni, we are also at the right place. Their only fault is the early closing time on work days – 7pm.
Entree: gyros in pita 750 forints, gyros platter 1490 forints, souvlaki platter 1490 forints
Dessert: 490 forints
How authentic: real Greek gyros from Greek owners
We recommend: Kerkyra platter for two (or three) Kerkyra Greek Food Bar
Address: 1067 Budapest, Eötvös Street 5.
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00-19:00; Friday 11:00-21:00
A Russian mother-in-law planted the thought into the owner’s head that Russian cuisine has its raison d’etre in Budapest, as an “unconventional” Russian place that is not all about glamour and vodka. Sure, there are two chandeliers hung in the eatery, but without them, we might feel a bit lost. The meals are classic and good - there are no “rethought” names or new wave dishes. The solyanka, borsch soup, pelmeni and varenyiki all resemble the most Russian babushka’s (“grandmother”) cooking.
Soup: 790 forints
Entree: from 1160 forints
Dessert: from 250 forints
How authentic: even Russian expats love coming here
We recommend: solyanka soup, pelmeni
Sushi Express is a fast food restaurant as much as it is a food bar. The focus is on freshly prepared makis and nigiris, and in addition to the tuna-tiger prawn-salmon trio, we can also choose from veggie versions. We can put together our own platters piece by piece, or can choose from pre-selected ones. While Sushi Express is not the most extraordinary sushi bar in terms of flavours or selection, it serves as a quick fix at lunchtime. They also have a home delivery service with a much richer menu, with free delivery in the downtown area.
Entree: 120-170 forints / maki, nigiri, gunkan; maki boxes from 990 forints
How authentic: standard sushi, but no sushi chef behind the counter
We recommend: salmon-avocado-cream cheese maki, chili sauce in addition to soy sauce
Address: 1072 Budapest, Klauzál Square 14.
El Rapido finds its target audience in Kazinczy Street. The restaurant is famous for its tequila bar and bazaar, but the main reason for its popularity is the authentic chilli con carne with tortilla chips and the pork gringa. Contrary to its name, the service at El Rapido is not too speedy; sometimes the background music to our lunch is screaming metal; and even at lunch there's a party atmosphere.
Soup: from 350 forints
Entree: meaty taco 640 forints, quesadilla 950 forints, chili con carne 970 forints
Dessert: from 200 forints
How authentic: some dishes are right on spot, but not a Speedy Gonzales
We recommend: chirrito, chili con carne
There are no chopsticks in Tisza Street’s Green Thai Food Bar, so we can eat the delicious wok dishes with spoons, knives and forks. The owner spent 12 years in Thailand, which is why he knows that Thai people do not bother with chopsticks at all, and they tend to do a rough job with the seasoning, so the quality of the end product can fluctuate. Instead this restaurant works with precise Hungarian chefs, so we can expect the same quality every time we order. It is compulsory to eat a soup before a rice or pasta dish, because the ones at Green Thai are very unique and richly with meat/shrimp.
Soup: from 990 forints
Entree: from 1190 forints
Dessert: 690 forints
How authentic: real Thai recipes, slightly adjusted to fit Hungarian tastes
We recommend: Tom Yum soup, Kai Jat Thai, banana in coconut milk
The name of this food bar refers to the main character of a Slavic fairytale, Kolobok. The repertoire of the restaurant is a mixture of many cultures and cuisines, so we can find vareniki, ratatouille or a meat dish served with dumplings in the menu. Their selection is always renewed; we can get notified about these changes on the eatery’s Facebook page. The service is very friendly: the girls readily help the customers with making a decision.
Soup: 790 forints
Entree: from 990 forints
Dessert: from 350 forints
How authentic: each dish tries to use traditional flavours
We recommend: varenikit, chebureki Address: 1064 Budapest, Rózsa Street 90.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-18:00
10/11
Chinese-Korean Food Bar
At first glance, it looks like any other Chinese buffet in the city, but the “Korean” fusion is certainly promising given that the guests are mostly Chinese and Korean people living in Budapest. The food bar appears to be average only from the outside. There's a much greater variety of dishes on the menu than at other buffets. The food is fresh, there is no potato instead of bamboo, and the kimchi is heavenly, as well. We can recommend this food bar to anyone who is not afraid to try something new.
Soup: from 500 forints
Entree: from 1200 forints
How authentic: rather authentic, as proven by the amount of Chinese and Korean customers
We recommend: kimchi soup, bulgogi
Chinese-Korean Food Bar
Address: 1066 Budapest, Zichy Jenő Street 9.
